Social-Cultural Approach

"Learning would be exceedingly laborious, not to mention hazardous, if people had to rely solely on the effects of their own actions to inform them what to do. Fortunately, most human behavior is learned observationally through modeling: from observing others one forms an idea of how new behaviors are performed, and on later occasions this coded information serves as a guide for action." -Albert Bandura, Social Learning Theory, 1977

Albert Bandura conducted the Bobo Doll study in which he modelled aggressive behaviour, had children observe that behaviour and they then imitated it. This would suggest that children, young people (and even adults) can be influenced by the behaviour and attitudes of people around them.

The social cultural approach suggests that other influences include parents, peers and the media.

Time to see if we understand how to apply these ideas.

Task: Watch the clip of the Bandura experiment below. Then contribute a comment to each of the walls.Extension Task: Read this article about the socio-cultural view of addiction. Answer these questions, on paper on in a googledoc.

In your opinion, does the social cultural approach remove individual responsibility for addictive behaviours? Why or why not?

To what extent do you think youth sub-cultures influence people's behaviour around alcohol and drugs? (Without naming names!) In your experience, do you think young people are heavily influenced by their peers?

Do you believe there are inconsistencies in the way society views different drugs and alcohol? How and why?